Sabaton / Thunderbolt / Kachana
22 May 2007
Purple Turtle, Camden, London
Bristol's Kachana opened the evening in very workman-like fashion. Fairly enjoyable Maidenesque metal was played but with little conviction, the band looking either half embarrassed to be on stage or just plain bored. Pretty soon the bands lack of enthusiasm for themselves transfers to the crowd and people are in conversation rather than watching the gig.
Kachana set list:
Twist The Knife / Vipera Aspis
At least Thunderbolt make the effort. The Norwegians are Sabaton's touring partners for this Euro jaunt and look pleased to have made the trip over the channel. Still few here have heard of them and they're going to have to write more memorable songs with better titles than Hi-Fidelity Heartbreak if they're to shift any of they're £25 hooded tops on a mid week night in Camden.
The Purple Turtle's cramped stage is perhaps not what Thunderbolt expected when they saw London on the tour schedule. Vocalist Tony Johannessen comments it`s the closest he's been to bassist Frank Johannessen in years, pauses, then in Borat fashion declares 'It's nice!' The singer is in fact Thunderbolt's prime asset with a range reminiscent of Michael Kiske.
Ultimately Thunderbolt have the enthusiasm but not the material yet to raise them above the crowd.
Thunderbolt set list included:
Heavy Metal Thunder / Love and Destruction / Hi-Fidelity Heartbreak / We Will Survive
This is a curious tour for Sabaton who are promoting their debut album ...three albums into their career! Said album, Metalizer, had been left to gather dust by their old record label but the band had finally got the disc released. What was curious, or possibly bravado at the time, was that I'd read an interview sometime ago where the band stated they hoped it wouldn't get released as they'd moved on so much. Certainly this was echoed tonight with the songs from Primo Victoria and Attero Dominatus standing head and shoulders above anything from Metalizer.
This anomaly does not however spoil what was an infectious display have metal. Vocalist Joakim Broden takes his shades off for a rousing Panzer Battalion then pumps his fist in the air through Light In The Black, with the band joining in on big backing vocals.
The band military theme fits Broden's unique metal image which is like a combination of the A-Team: Hannibal's cool leadership, Mr T's hair, Murdoch`s madness and Face's cool shades.
With six members its very cramped on stage, though bassist Par Sundstrom's position tucked against the drum kit offers him sanctuary from Broden's joy of nipple twisting - guitarists Rikard Sunden and Oskar Montelius the pained recipients!
Attero Dominatus sounds huge drawing pleased grins through the Purple Turtle whilst apparently Rise Of Evil is not about Hitler, but Broden's cock!
Following Hellrider, Broden tells us that the band would usually run of stage but for tonight we just pretend with a spirited chant of Sabaton before the band plough on.
Broden climbed the speaker stack then headed across the top of the bar during Primo Victoria before a combination of Metal Machine and Metal Crue finished the show. Sabaton are oft lumped in with the power metal crowd but in truth they're carving their own little niche with an ability to flex muscle in their metal and a live show to admire. Mission accomplished!
Sabaton set list:
Metalizer / Panzer Battalion / Light In The Black / Hail To The King / In The Name Of God / Into The Fire / Attero Dominatus / Rise Of Evil / Back In Control / Hellrider / Wolfpack / Primo Victoria / Metal Machine / Metal Crue
LINKS:
Sabaton
Thunderbolt
Kachana |
